I am boggled by the sheer number of readings related to children's internet use rights and protections. These privacy barriers and protections are meant to accomplish one goal.
Just as many of the readings have suggested, kids need to be guided and aided as they learn and develop the skills needed to analyze their world intelligently. These intentions of guidance and protection are good to the core. However, the zealous effort of shielding and protecting may sometimes also block needed content. Examples of this became appearant through the use of filtering software. Taken in one context "breast" has a sexual connotation. In other applications, "breast + cancer" = a legitimate search query that should not be blocked.
Filtering should occur to protect young minds from graphic violence and lewd material, but blocking any and connotative language impedes the patron's right to seek information and gain knowledge.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Personal opinions need to stay HOME
Policy used for Scenario 5 in the upcoming assignment
ALA code of ethics, Article 1V states " We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional duties and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation of the aims of our institutions or the provision of access to their information resources"
Allow me to be personal for a sentence or three, please. I am a Christian and recognize that this is MY personal belief. However, I respect and have learned from many people who share different religious traditions. In fact, my own belief has been challenged and then strengthened as I have built relationships with others so that I can learn about them and their ideas. Libraries are supposed to be places that foster and support the free exchange of ideas.
Therefore, I have 2 questions about the strength of diversity in a library collection. I have noticed an increase in the number of Muslim people in my surrounding community. I work for a community college that has a very strong Muslim presence now. We would do a disservice to that community f we did not offer people the chance to learn about the tenets of Islam and the peaceful foundations that most followers of Allah cling to! In times when terror and national security are tense and unrelenting, fear does nothing to alleviate pressure. the best hope is to offer places for discussion and shared knowledge. Marie Curie once said, "Nothing is to be feared, it is only to be understood."
If you think you recognize parts of the above from our discussion board, you're right! Scenario 5 is difficult for me to answer. That question says that the library has received a small donation and that a co-worker want the library to purchase a Muslim holiday book. There is some discussion about Jewish and Christan holiday books as well, but the person is firm in their desire to see a Muslim book chosen.
Two questions entered my mind right away. They are: 1) Did the donor specify how their gift ought to be distributed? and 2) what is the current depth of holiday titles available? After answering those questions and seeing what "gaps" should be filled in, then the selector ought to consider which titles would benefit the entire community best and make those purchase decisions.
This scenario has reminded me that no matter how much I would LOVE to fill a library with just my favorite writers and thinkers, the people around me deserve breadth before depth so that they can choose their passions just as I once did! Without exploratory freedom and variation that leads (hopefully!) to distinction, informed opinions cannot be formed. Biased learning is dangerous. Believing only one side of an issue is foolish, because single sides collapse under pressure and are often difficult to intelligently defend. I am often grateful for moments that allow me to encounter something outside my sphere of current understanding. Whether or not I agree matters less than the chance to consider and become wiser via the experience itself.
ALA code of ethics, Article 1V states " We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional duties and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation of the aims of our institutions or the provision of access to their information resources"
Allow me to be personal for a sentence or three, please. I am a Christian and recognize that this is MY personal belief. However, I respect and have learned from many people who share different religious traditions. In fact, my own belief has been challenged and then strengthened as I have built relationships with others so that I can learn about them and their ideas. Libraries are supposed to be places that foster and support the free exchange of ideas.
Therefore, I have 2 questions about the strength of diversity in a library collection. I have noticed an increase in the number of Muslim people in my surrounding community. I work for a community college that has a very strong Muslim presence now. We would do a disservice to that community f we did not offer people the chance to learn about the tenets of Islam and the peaceful foundations that most followers of Allah cling to! In times when terror and national security are tense and unrelenting, fear does nothing to alleviate pressure. the best hope is to offer places for discussion and shared knowledge. Marie Curie once said, "Nothing is to be feared, it is only to be understood."
If you think you recognize parts of the above from our discussion board, you're right! Scenario 5 is difficult for me to answer. That question says that the library has received a small donation and that a co-worker want the library to purchase a Muslim holiday book. There is some discussion about Jewish and Christan holiday books as well, but the person is firm in their desire to see a Muslim book chosen.
Two questions entered my mind right away. They are: 1) Did the donor specify how their gift ought to be distributed? and 2) what is the current depth of holiday titles available? After answering those questions and seeing what "gaps" should be filled in, then the selector ought to consider which titles would benefit the entire community best and make those purchase decisions.
This scenario has reminded me that no matter how much I would LOVE to fill a library with just my favorite writers and thinkers, the people around me deserve breadth before depth so that they can choose their passions just as I once did! Without exploratory freedom and variation that leads (hopefully!) to distinction, informed opinions cannot be formed. Biased learning is dangerous. Believing only one side of an issue is foolish, because single sides collapse under pressure and are often difficult to intelligently defend. I am often grateful for moments that allow me to encounter something outside my sphere of current understanding. Whether or not I agree matters less than the chance to consider and become wiser via the experience itself.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Advocating for Youth
Of the many themes that were present in this week's large chunk of reading, I couldn't help but appreciate the importance placed upon the Library Bill of Rights focus toward advocacy for teens and kids. No, this does not means that librarians act in place of parents, but it does mean that librarians foster a young persons learning so that the individual can grow intellectually and have the maturity to relate thoughtfully to their rapidly-changing social surroundings.
Oh freedom! Dangerous freedom... You are truly a double-edged sword.
Catherine's lectures reminded us of this, and yet, the need to champion your causes of expansion and exploration are too enticing to resist. The other side of intrigue, however, is fear. Fear shelters and prohibits. That isolates and destroys rather than building and encouraging an open exchange of ideas and views. If youth never see debates and hear discussions, then how can they ever learn to defend or modify their beliefs when new information is unveiled? Such ignorance of lack of strategy stifles growth. To NOT equip the young with these needed tools is foolish and irresponsible. YES, there will be controversy. It is worth the risk, though. The alternative is ignorance and a lacking ability to learn from the past. Those potential consequences are far too great to ignore...
Oh freedom! Dangerous freedom... You are truly a double-edged sword.
Catherine's lectures reminded us of this, and yet, the need to champion your causes of expansion and exploration are too enticing to resist. The other side of intrigue, however, is fear. Fear shelters and prohibits. That isolates and destroys rather than building and encouraging an open exchange of ideas and views. If youth never see debates and hear discussions, then how can they ever learn to defend or modify their beliefs when new information is unveiled? Such ignorance of lack of strategy stifles growth. To NOT equip the young with these needed tools is foolish and irresponsible. YES, there will be controversy. It is worth the risk, though. The alternative is ignorance and a lacking ability to learn from the past. Those potential consequences are far too great to ignore...
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Welcome to Kjersti's Winter 2010, LIS 551 blog
I will be recording my thoughts and ideas here each Sunday during the quarter. Come back again soon!
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